...via the AP and Houston Chronicle:
The House voted Tuesday to prevent law enforcement officers from confiscating legally owned guns during a national disaster or emergency.
...The House voted 322-99 in favor of the bill.
It's not really a surprise to me that the bill passed, given the more conservative bent of the House as compared to the Senate -- but I would have never expected the vote tally to be so lopsided. It's good to know at least a few of our countrymen on the other side of the aisle don't believe natural disasters warrant disarmament of the citizenry. But, as usual, some people just don't get it...
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., called the bill "insane."
He and some Democrats said the bill might satisfy the gun lobby, but it would put people into more danger during already perilous disasters.
Riiiiight. As if they would be in less danger after being disarmed and left unable to protect themselves from looters and thugs who were after their generators, food and God knows what else. Spoken like a true politician (with, of course, an F- GOA rating). Further vindication of the bill comes in the very next sentence, though...
The Fraternal Order of Police endorsed the measure. In a letter to Jindal, National President Chuck Canterbury said, "A law-abiding citizen who possesses a firearm lawfully represents no danger to law enforcement officers or any other first responder."
I know there are more than a few folks behind the badge who agree with that, but it's always good to see it in print, especially considering the firmly established bias of the media on any and all things gun-related. Considering that, it's also quite surprising that there were absolutely no quotes from The Organizations Formerly Known as Handgun Control and The National Coalition To Ban Handguns, or the Violence Policy Center. A small victory, I know...but we should take those victories anywhere we can get them.
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